Theo Riddick is a starting running back for the Detroit Lions and is on pace to have his best season as a pro. He is in his 5th season in the NFL and was drafted by the Lions in 2013. He played college football at Notre Dame, where he was an integral piece to the Irish’s 2012 undefeated season. Head coach Brian Kelly referred to him as the “definition of a Notre Dame Football player”. At 5’10” and about 200 pounds, Riddick has tried to find a delicate balance between strength and speed, as one of the ascending pass-catching running backs in the league. In a Detroit News article, Theo Riddick stated that “I turned vegan over the summer. I’ve noticed a difference just with my energy level,” and went on to say, “I’m not a junk-food type of eater. I’m like a smoothie guy; I do a lot of fruit and throw my kale and all my protein in there and that’s how I get everything.” Theo will be discussing how his diet has been an important factor in this success.

Dr. Joel Kahn serves as Clinical Professor of Medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine. He has authored 5 books, the latest of which is the Plant Based Solution. He is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of the University of Michigan School of Medicine. He writes health articles, is a commentator on Fox 2 News, has a national public TV show, The Whole Heart Solution, and has been seen on The Doctors and Dr. Phil show. Dr. Kahn has treated thousands of acute heart attacks during his career but he’d like to prevent them from happening in the first place. Dr. Kahn and his family are the owners of the very successful GreenSpace Cafe, a plant-based restaurant in downtown Ferndale, where they prove that healthy food can also taste great! He has been plant-based for over 40 years and lectures across the country on optimal health and diet. He can be found at www.drjoelkahn.com

Dr. Joel Fuhrman is a board-certified family physician, six-time New York Times best-selling author and internationally recognized expert on nutrition and natural healing, who specializes in preventing and reversing disease through nutritional methods. Dr. Fuhrman coined the term “Nutritarian” to describe his eating style, which is built on a diet of nutrient-dense, plant-rich foods. Dr. Fuhrman has authored numerous research articles published in medical journals and is on the faculty of Northern Arizona University, Health Science Division. He serves as President of the Nutritional Research Foundation. For over 25 years, Dr. Fuhrman has shown that it is possible to achieve sustainable weight loss and reverse heart disease, diabetes and many other illnesses using smart nutrition. In his medical practice, and through his books and television specials, he continues to bring this life-saving message to hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Dr. Fuhrman created the Nutritarian diet, an eating plan that incorporates the latest advances in nutritional science. At the center of the Nutritarian diet is the simple health equation, H=N/C. This equation expresses the concept that your health (H) is predicted by your nutrient intake (N) divided by your calorie intake (C). His ANDI scoring system (featured in Whole Foods Market), which measures the relative nutrient density of common foods, has directed millions of consumers to eat an anti-cancer diet-style.

Caroline Trapp is director of diabetes education and care with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. She is also a nurse practitioner specializing in the care of people with diabetes at Premier Internists, a division of the Millennium Medical Group, P.C., in Southfield, Mich. As the Physicians Committee’s director of diabetes education and care, Trapp manages a variety of diabetes prevention and reversal initiatives, including the development and distribution of resources for consumers and healthcare providers. She has collaborated with a number of Native American organizations to address the food-related epidemic of type 2 diabetes. She has also produced materials including a DVD and recipe booklet (available at www.ThePowerPlate.org) that were “Favorably Reviewed” by the American Association of Diabetes Educators. Trapp was awarded Oakland University’s Nightingale Award for Education and Research in 2012 and inducted as a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners in 2013. Trapp received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and her Masters of Science in community health nursing from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. She is board certified in adult primary care, advanced diabetes management, and diabetes education. She has worked with people with diabetes for more than 20 years and continues to see patients one day a week.

Sheena Monnin is a TV host, reporter, and actor, and is a twice-published author of self-help books that have received acclaim with readers across the country. She has been interviewed by CNN’s AC360, Inside Edition, Today Show, USA Today, Guardian, BBC, Buzz Feed, and many other media outlets. Sheena won the title of Miss Pennsylvania USA 2012 and competed at Miss USA in 2012. She is the CEO of Custom Life Design Consulting and uses her Masters in Psychology to speak to groups of young adults on the importance of purpose, kindness, and potential in their lives. Sheena is a Toastmaster and will serve as the Master of Ceremonies at VegFest.

Nicole Braxton is the founder of Around the World in 7 Days! LLC, a wellness organization focused on sharing a message of health and restoration with the community. She specializes in providing wellness workshops along with cooking classes, pop up restaurants and support groups to a variety of organizations in the Metro-Detroit area. Nicole was also featured on the television network, 3ABN’s Dare to Dream, where she recorded 12 episodes on “Creative Cooking”, which is scheduled to air on April 1st, 2018. After studying Cross Cultural business at Hong Kong Baptist University and receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Bowling Green State University, Nicole started pursing her passion for good health cuisine. On her journey learning more about plant-based cooking, she trained with a French Chef gaining priceless knowledge about nutrition, medicinal properties of food as well as the fine science of herbs and spices. It was her desire to empower communities to make smarter health choices, address health concerns and teach the benefits of eating a plant-based diet. It is her belief that health is a journey that can be liberating when equipped with principles and practical steps.

Paul Chatlin was born in Detroit and has lived in West Bloomfield since 1958. In May of 2013, he was diagnosed with Severe Coronary Heart Disease. His cardiologist gave him two options: bypass surgery or try a Whole Food/Plant Based Diet. After meeting with Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, he decided to try “Plant Based Nutrition”. After just 3 weeks his angina disappeared. His cholesterol levels dropped from 350 to 100 and he lost 65 pounds. And, he felt great! Paul promised himself that when he felt better he would put together a support group to help others in our community, so he contacted Dr. Joel Kahn who agreed to assist him on the journey. In February of 2014, he held his first Plant Based Nutrition Support Group (PBNSG) meeting and 123 people attended! Today PBNSG has 4803 members and 65 volunteers. They have started multiple outreach programs and has relationships with the owners of 25 local restaurants. PBNSG has completed working on curriculum change with Medical Students at Wayne State, Eastern Michigan , Oakland University, Michigan State Universities and the University of Michigan medical schools. Held classes for local doctors to learn about the benefits of nutrition before pills or procedures called Doctors Teaching Doctors. PBNSG has over 25 small groups around the state. In 2018 PBNSG will be holding over 46 health and culinary education classes and just finished an 80+ page manual called “Healthier Together” which helps people around the world start their own Plant Based Nutrition Support Group.

Brece Clark is a humane educator and animal caretaker at SASHA Farm Animal Sanctuary. He is a former horse trainer and dairy farmer. Since becoming vegan in 2013, Brece now uses that knowledge to better care for the animals he works to protect. He attended Grand Valley State University where he earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Wildlife Biology.

Debby Knight Jones; BAS/CHES and Denise Kling-Pelto; CHNC are teachers and presenters for the Plant Based Support Group and Plant-Healthy Gals. Debby holds a Bachelor’s degree in Health Education from the University of Michigan, a Certification in Plant-Based Nutrition from Cornell University, a national certification as a Health Education Specialist, and she is a Registered Yoga teacher. Denise has completed a degree in Holistic Nutrition Consulting, a Certification in Plant-Based Nutrition and Healthy Heart from Cornell, and vegan chef training through the Natural Cooking School. She is also a Food for Life Instructor for the Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine. Using their lively banter to teach whole plant-based science and culinary support, to those wanting to transition into a whole plant-based lifestyle. Debby and Denise unravel obstacles to healthy eating with practical strategies and connections to PBNSG’s speakers, small groups, resources, hundreds of delicious recipes and comradery.

Abby Bechek Hoot, (Durga Devi) is a practitioner and teacher of yoga. She co-directs House Of Yoga in Berkley with her partner, Dave Tomaszewski, (Shiva Das), where they are celebrating the studio’s 13th year. Her journey to veganism began as a teenager and has solidified through her practice of yoga. She is a certified Jivamukti Yoga teacher, trained by Jivamukti founders and animal rights activists, David Life and Sharon Gannon. At the foundation of yoga is the practice of Ahimsa, to cause no harm. Not only an activist for animals but for the environment as well, Durga Devi is the Founder of the group “Team Lorax” in Royal Oak. She is leading the movement to preserve the grandmother and grandfather trees in the city where she lives. Durga Devi teaches daily yoga classes at House Of Yoga. Together with her partner, she leads teacher trainings and offers Life Style coaching through House Of Yoga’s LIFE OS programs. Durga Devi and Shiva Das, have been presenters at Festivals such as Yoga Fest, and Bhakti Fest Midwest. They also travel and offer devotional music events (know as kirtan), with their band Vishnu Blue. “Yoga inspires us to be our best Self, living a compassionate life is at the heart of a true yogi.” You can find Durga Devi’s schedule at www.houseofyoga.net

Amber Poupore is synonymous with vegetarian cuisine in southeastern Michigan, having worked over a decade at the premier plant-based restaurant Inn Season Cafe; opening her own plant-based establishments, Cacao Tree Cafe, The Clean Plate and a catering business. Her passion for providing well balanced, enriching and nourishing foods is representative through her involvement and commitment to her clientele and the community. Amber is involved with educational and instructional classes throughout southeastern MI, including the medical students at prestigious universities and corporations as reputable as GM. She has recently been featured in the full-length documentary “Eating You Alive” and has appeared frequently on Fox 2 News, Channels 4 and 7, as well as numerous articles in local publications.

Quiana “Que” Broden, is a renowned vegan food blogger that has 15 years of experience in the food service and entertainment industries, as a personal chef, and food connoisseur, respectively. With existing relationships with local, social and community groups, ongoing relationships with specialty grocers, and her elite clientele, she has pushed forward her mission to teach people how to EAT TO LIVE, by introducing more plant-based meals into everyday lives. Cooking with Que has become the space to allow Vegans and Meat-eaters to coexist. With live demonstrations and living recipes, Cooking with Que satisfies every appetite at the table.